Understanding motorhome weight

Motorhome weight is important. Exceeding your allowed motorhome weight or camper van weight can be dangerous, invalidate your insurance and warranty (if you have one) and even lead to a fine.

The motorhome weight also has a bearing on what type of driving licence you need, as explained here.

Information about your motorhome weight will be on a plate on your van, but understanding what these motorhome weight figures mean is another matter. In the UK the V5C (aka ‘log book’) will show the gross weight (see below), but not the other figures.

This post seeks to explain what all these motorhome weight figures mean.

Going ‘off grid’

When going ‘off grid’ it’s essential to take measures that will minimise the drain on the leisure battery (or batteries).

It’s often very nice to have all of the bells and whistles of a big, well equipped campsite – but there are times when something more basic is more appealing. Also, the more basic the site, the lower the cost (in general).

Or it may be necessary or expedient to stay overnight in a layby or quiet road, though that’s rarely recommended (see separate post).